Govt to ‘streamline’ NHSBSA claims via ‘up to’ £8m IT budget

 
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‘Up to’ £8 million is set to be spent on pharmacy “digital developments” over the next year, the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) has announced.

Mascot on a mission to bust misconceptions about AMR

 
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has launched a new digital campaign led by mascot ‘Andi Biotic’ to tackle misconceptions about antibiotics and the “threat of antibiotic resistance”.

exclusive

Nick Kaye: ‘The NPA isn’t in any mood to back down’

 
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Chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) Nick Kaye has said that he “definitely wouldn't be thinking about a U-turn” on collective action, amid “real anger” over a lack of April cash.


DH to place ‘explicit restrictions’ on funded blood pressure checks

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The pharmacy hypertension service specification is set to be updated to exclude patients who request “frequent measurement of their blood pressure”.

CPE hiring independent chair at £50k for 3-4 days a month

 
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CPE is recruiting a new independent chair to “provide strategic leadership” – the position pays £50k a year and only requires a “time commitment” of 3-4 working days per calendar month.

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CPE: Almost half of £645m recovery plan funds unspent

 
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The pharmacy negotiator estimates some £296m of remaining primary care recovery plan funding “will have been used by NHS England (NHSE) in other ways”, C+D has learned.


breaking news

IN FULL: Number of pharmacies drops below 10,000 in 20-year first

 
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Only 9,999 bricks-and-mortar pharmacies remained in England at the end of March, NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) data has revealed.

NHSE mulls pharmacy HPV vaccine rollout

 
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NHS England (NHSE) has suggested that community pharmacies should offer HPV vaccinations to “raise awareness” and increase uptake of the jab.

All the headlines: Community pharmacy funding deal

 
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Find out everything you need to know about the government’s plans for community pharmacy – as outlined in this week’s long-awaited pharmacy funding deal.


Pharmacy stop-smoking service expands to ‘non-registered’ staff

 
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The new pharmacy contract has expanded who can deliver the smoking cessation service, as well as adding the provision of two drugs via PGDs.

exclusive

Revealed: 2024/25 contract cash uplift already paid

 
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Following this week’s announcement of the long-awaited pharmacy funding deal, C+D has learned that contractors have already received the additional £106 million in retrospective funding for 2024/25.

Antidepressants added to NMS from October

 
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The government has announced an expansion to and fresh payment structure for the new medicine service (NMS) to “boost mental health support in the community”.


‘Smaller than usual’ PQS reinstated under new funding deal

 
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The government has announced that the pharmacy quality scheme (PQS) will be “reinstated” in 2025/26 as part of the new funding deal but is “smaller than usual”.

Government to ‘review’ margin system and faster Cat M process

 
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The new pharmacy funding deal has revealed incoming changes to the medicines margin, including plans for an “early entry” Category M process.

Pharmacies can ‘change’ core hours under new contract

 
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The government has announced that pharmacies in England will be able to undergo an “application process” to change the days and times of their core opening hours to “better serve their patients”.


Pharmacy First, contraception and BP ‘bundling’ delayed

 
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Rules that would have required pharmacies to provide three services in order to qualify for a fixed monthly payment have been delayed by two months.

New Pharmacy First cash, bands and thresholds agreed

 
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Changes to the Pharmacy First service are set to come into force from June, while increased fees will be paid from today, as part of the new pharmacy contract.

analysis

‘Staring down the barrel’ or a ‘positive first step’?

 
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Reaction to the funding contract from pharmacy groups has been mixed, from demands for the CPE executive team to “immediately resign" to describing it as a “vital lifeline”.


Funding breakdown: Write-offs, service payments and activity fees

 
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Details of the long-awaited pharmacy contract deal have revealed single activity fee uplifts, a one-off £193 million historic margin write-off and plans “to redesign the whole payment timetable”.

CPE ‘reluctantly accepted’ funding offer amid ‘impossible position’

 
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Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has said that it “reluctantly accepted the final offer” of the long-awaited pharmacy funding deal, stressing that it is “not enough” to stabilise the sector.